Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

This timely volume presents a synthesis of the ideas that emerged from a multidisciplinary colloquium held at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in August 1985. The aim was to assess the impact of drought as a major factor in the agrarian crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. Leading authorities engage in discussion of the African environment, the socio-political factors that generate famine, case studies of the effects of famine on these social structures, and finally possible lessons to be learnt on dealing with famine worldwide, thus developing an up-to-date and cohesive study of the problems of African development. Despite the current popular interest in the African famine problem, Drought and Hunger in Africa is the first major collection of the results that have emerged from the recent profusion of research relating to the subject. As such, this book has relevance, not only in Africa, but also to scientists, social-scientists and policy makers in the West, and to other areas of the third world which are facing the problems of drought and famine.

Synopsis

This volume presents a synthesis of the ideas that emerged from a colloquium held at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Table of Contents

Preface; Foreword Bradford Morse; Part I. Physical and Social Setting: 1. Global climate change and variability: effects on drought and desertification in Africa Eugene M. Rasmusson; 2. some aspects of meteorological drought in Ethiopia Workineh Degefu; 3. Drought and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa Michael H. Glantz; 4. African pastoralism and poverty: some implications for drought and famine Michael M. Horowitz and Peter D. Little; 5. Part II. Internal-External Perspectives: 5. The decline of African agriculture: an internalist perspective Michael F. Lofchie; 6. Internal factors that generate famine Robert J. Cummings; 7. Towards a political economy of the African crisis: diplomacy, debates and dialectics Timothy M. Shaw; 8. Linking and sinking: economic externalities and the persistence of destitution and famine in Africa Randall Baker; Part III. Case Studies: 9. Drought, environment and food security: some reflections on peasants, pastoralists and commoditization in dryland West Africa Michael Watts; 10. Drought, food and the social organization of small farmers in Zimbabwe Michael Bratton; 11. The social impact of drought in Ethiopia: oxen, households, and some implications for rehabilitation James McCann; 12. role of government in combatting food shortages: lessons from Kenya 1984-85 John M. Cohen and David B. Lewis; 13. The social impacts of planned settlement in Burkina Faso Della E. McMillan; 14. Evolution of food rationing systems with reference to African group farms in the context of drought William I. Torry; 15. The role of non-government organizations in famine prevention Michael F. Scott; Part IV. Lessons for the Future: 16. food self-sufficiency in Malawi: are successes transferable? J. Gus Liebenow; 17. Famine relief policy in India: six lessons for Africa Michelle B. McAlpin; 18. Famine and famine relief: viewing Africa in the 1980s from China in the 1920s Lillian M. Li; 19. Denying famine a future: concluding remarks Rhys Payne, Lynette Rummel and Michael J. Glantz; Index.